Biological, Cultural, and Chemical Control of Pests Practice Test

HzNPV targets caterpillars because it is a baculovirus that infects Lepidoptera larvae. When caterpillars ingest the occlusion bodies on treated plant material, the virus activates in the gut, replicates in the midgut and other tissues, and ultimately kills the insect. This host range is highly specific, so HzNPV effectively controls caterpillars while having little to no effect on beetles, nematodes, or aphids. That specificity is what makes it a selective biopesticide for caterpillar pests, such as some Lepidopteran pests in crops.